Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-04-07
ArToRxHr-eHxKHAL B1ees.
No L. Officially Made what n. Prno.
ticaliy Eaas Been,

ticaliy HAS Been.
AT l2.S0 O'Clock, Monday afternoon
deputy Attorney General Bieps receiVsd
9 Telegram from Adjutant. General n. n.
henny, at Dover, stating that the GOV.
ernor had appointed the former attorney.
general Of the State.
tJohn Biggs was born nsar M,ddlssow,
October 18th, 1856. He was prenarad TO-
college at Hightetown, N. j.. ara Rugbv
academy, this city. In the fall Of IA be
eengeseo tne sophomore class at Princeton.
nnIsninB MS course there In 1877, ga then
same TO Wilmington and studied under
nlctor DUPONT, Esq, and was admitted to
.ne par az the November term, 1879, His
lnaloen e1ort at the February term, 1880.
s w,ss aighly commended BY the papers IRE.
Shp sos " party. In january, 1858, he
Deeame the second PRECEDENT of the .'oune
Men's Democratic Club Of this city, an d wns
re-eiected In january, 1884, holding office
nnul january, 1886. The club was linen IN
us most critical period, and the streI 9Th il
developed was largely due to the Intelligent
energy Of Mr.. Biggs. On April 7th, 1885, he
was appointed deputy attorney.ge heral,
@nleh ONCE ne has, therefore, been hpldine
almost precisely two years.
On account OF the recent appoiptm amt NJ
Attorney-General John II. Paynter 10 the
Deneh Of the State, Mr.. Blggs has been
placed In delicate position In regard to
accepting this appointment. It is only lust.
therefore, thAb the circumstances OF the
case should be given. In the frat place the
Mlddietown Nelc Era has called attention
70 point worthy OF some consideration,
II says OF Governor Bggs' action: among
some OF the foolish assertions. It IA charged
that he made the appointment 10 creafs a
vacancy so that his son, now the deuuty
attorney-general, could be made attorney.
general. This seems to fall Of It's own
weight, when 1t ia remembered that Judee
faynters time as encouragement would
nave expired during Gov. Biggs' admi1is-
ltaton, and u he desired TO appoint his son
encouragement he could have then done
~, giving MIN service OF eight years from
tnls time, whereas If he Is now appointed
Encouragement he will have but the 1--WE
years. II Governor Blggs wants his son 10
oe attorney-general, aud the latter wants
the place, 1t is natural to suppose that they
both, II they consulted their personal dc.
sires, would have preferred that the ap-
pointment should have come In this way."
IL is claimed by the most Intimate friends
OF Governor Blggs that OF those mentioned
tor the position, he appointed to the judge
snip one who had been for 30 yeurs OF more
personal friend and the one he considered
BEST lifted for the position. Be this as II
may, John Blggs decided that he would not
accept the position ot encouragement un-
less such action met the app oval Of the bar
of the State. More than 80 lawyers signed
the petition asking for his appointment TO
the position, and this is said TO he tho
strongest recommendation ever given by
the lawyers Of this State. 1t will be welt
to state here that there are less
than rs lawyers In the State, And
of those who did not sign tho
petition 1t may be said that
II was not because they were opposed to
Mr.. BiRgs, but because they were afraid OF
to approve Of the appointment
OF Judge Paynter. 1t has been matter OF
comment that as Mr.. Blggs as deputy
did most OF the work Of
the attorney-general's Office he should J
receive the pay for his work. This will nowl
be the case. In May, 1886, EVERY EVENING
commented upon the effectiveness OF the
work OF MIR. Blggs and the excellent shape
into which he got his cases so that they
were rushed through with great dispatch.
Probably no one Is better able to Judge OF
Mr.. Blggs us deputy Encouragement than
Levi O. Bird, ESD, who has argued at least
half dozen capital cases against him. Mir.
Bird said to-day that hei believed no one
had been more thoroughly efficient III that
position than Mr.. Blggs.l